{"id":1004242565,"date":"2018-08-09T03:43:59","date_gmt":"2018-08-09T11:43:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/?p=1004242565"},"modified":"2022-12-08T20:03:29","modified_gmt":"2022-12-09T04:03:29","slug":"the-next-episode-in-workplace-design-privacy-returns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/the-next-episode-in-workplace-design-privacy-returns\/","title":{"rendered":"The Next Episode in Workplace Design: Privacy Returns"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Beata Lorincz<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Shannon Gaffney, co-founder & creative director, SkB Architects<\/p><\/div>\n

All businesses are aiming for custom-fit, creative solutions for their offices. Tech companies are particularly open to experimenting and integrating new concepts into their workplaces such as residential and hospitality elements.  This type of components are making their way into modern workspace design strategies<\/a>, while common-area amenities are also moving into the limelight.<\/p>\n

Shannon Gaffney, co-founder & creative director of Seattle-based SkB Architects, has gained experience in creating original office spaces, mainly for tech companies. The full-service architecture and interior design firm was involved in the development of Microsoft\u2019s Design Language for Place, a set of guidelines put together for the creation of Microsoft offices, presented at the 2017 Design Summit in Montreal.<\/p>\n

SkB Architects has designed numerous workplaces. What sets tech companies apart as clients? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Gaffney:<\/strong> Actually, very little. Everyone wants an evocative workplace that caters to the way they work and offers an array of blended amenities. No one comes to us and says \u201cmake our workplace feel like a workplace.\u201d Everyone from tech clients to lawyers are looking for residential, workplace and hospitality-esque qualities for themselves and their clients.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Recent redesign project for a global management consultancy firm<\/p><\/div>\n

What are the most recent innovations in workplace design, especially regarding tech companies? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Gaffney:<\/strong> I think we\u2019ve seen the popularity of end-on-end, Hogwart-style workstations reach their zenith. While they\u2019re great for density, they\u2019re much more challenging for acoustics or if you work in smaller teams and need a greater variety of workpoints. Microsoft, followed by Google, has been on to this for a little while now. We call them \u201cneighborhoods\u201d and they typically have eight to 16 people with an optional meeting table. It\u2019s open, but zoned, so you get some degree of privacy within a big space\u2014sort of alone and together at the same time.<\/p>\n

What amenities are tech companies seeking for in a workplace?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gaffney:<\/strong> Most commonly, they\u2019re looking for a variety of workpoints, larger meeting rooms, subsidized food options, bike\/fitness facilities, games and recreation services, as well as features that cater to pets\u2014dog parks, piddle pads, you name it.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Recent redesign project for a global management consultancy firm<\/p><\/div>\n

SkB Architects was recently involved in putting together a set of guidelines for Microsoft offices. Tell us more about this project. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Gaffney:<\/strong> The Microsoft real estate footprint<\/a> covers 46 million square feet over more than 779 global sites. Each building, remodel and sprawling campus must artfully convey Microsoft\u2019s dynamic gestalt, thoughtfully contribute to the surrounding community\u2019s identity and subtly enhance the well-being of all who enter its spaces. How do they accomplish all this without giving every site the same rubber-stamped look, the same formulaic floor plans, the same standardized experience for employees, visitors and local community? <\/p>\n

This is where the Design Language for Place comes in. Far from being a mere \u201ckit of parts\u201d formula that many companies use, Microsoft\u2019s Design Language for Place instead elevates design by exploring exactly what makes a space look, feel and function as a reflection of both the company\u2019s cultural brand and its unique location. It\u2019s almost like a Choose Your Own Adventure for any global stakeholder involved in the design of Microsoft spaces, but with guide rails placed just the right distance out to the sides. So far, it\u2019s been really well received and we were honored to be invited to present our work alongside Microsoft at the World Design Summit in Montreal last year.<\/p>\n

How can data on the use of an office space help improve its quality? How common is the use of data in workspace design and how do you see this trend going forward?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gaffney:<\/strong> Good quality data\u2014<\/em>both anecdotal and exactly measured\u2014<\/em>can be immensely beneficial<\/a>. The key is balancing both in the right amounts as each has its own limitations. How people behave and what they tell you about a space can often appear at odds and it\u2019s crucial to get to \u201cwhy\u201d if you want to get it right. Data is pretty commonly used and data-driven firms certainly love it\u2014<\/em>from chair sensors to tracking usage via key fobs\u2014<\/em>but it\u2019s important to recognize that it lacks qualities and characteristics. Tracking will never capture happiness and enjoyment. Even surveys can be misleading because employees sometimes wonder who is reading the answers and if their answers will come back against them.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Global management consultancy offices<\/p><\/div>\n

Give us an example of a recent office project you have worked on. Which are its main features? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Gaffney:<\/strong> We\u2019re really proud of the work we\u2019ve done recently for a global management consultancy firm which has asked to remain anonymous for now. They were coming from a very dated, old office and were ready for a space that could be used to attract new talent, retain the talent they had and that better reflected their approach to work. In the resulting space, the only assigned desks were for dedicated admin staff with the remainder of the office offering five to six deeply varied workpoints\u2014<\/em>from the ultra-private to the \u201calone but together\u201d to war room-style teaming areas. They also really embraced a rich palette of materials and colors.<\/p>\n

The final outcome was a sophisticated yet comfortable space that encourages exploration. It truly represents that blend touched on before\u2014<\/em>strong residential elements alongside workplace characteristics and elements one might expect in a boutique hotel.<\/p>\n

Images courtesy of SkB Architects<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What are the latest trends in designing office spaces for tech companies? Shannon Gaffney of SkB Architects shares her experience in the field and sheds light on some of the freshest and most popular concepts in workplace design.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":739,"featured_media":1004242592,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21808,23891,21742,21747,21744],"tags":[40476,33865,41129],"class_list":["post-1004242565","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-national","category-latest","category-office","category-people","tag-cpetalks","tag-microsoft","tag-skb-architects"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe Next Episode in Workplace Design: Privacy Returns - Commercial Property Executive<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/the-next-episode-in-workplace-design-privacy-returns\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Next Episode in Workplace Design: Privacy Returns\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"What are the latest trends in designing office spaces for tech companies? Shannon Gaffney of SkB Architects shares her experience in the field and sheds light on some of the freshest and most popular concepts in workplace design.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/the-next-episode-in-workplace-design-privacy-returns\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Commercial Property Executive\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/CPExecutive\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2018-08-09T11:43:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-12-09T04:03:29+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2018\/07\/tech-client-2-e1531476664221.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1068\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"801\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Beata Lorincz\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@cpexecutive\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@cpexecutive\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/the-next-episode-in-workplace-design-privacy-returns\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/the-next-episode-in-workplace-design-privacy-returns\/\",\"name\":\"The Next Episode in Workplace Design: Privacy Returns - Commercial Property Executive\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/the-next-episode-in-workplace-design-privacy-returns\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/the-next-episode-in-workplace-design-privacy-returns\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2018\/07\/tech-client-2-e1531476664221.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2018-08-09T11:43:59+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-12-09T04:03:29+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/23f841021ddf3b38ebc56abefe1d6004\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/the-next-episode-in-workplace-design-privacy-returns\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/the-next-episode-in-workplace-design-privacy-returns\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/the-next-episode-in-workplace-design-privacy-returns\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2018\/07\/tech-client-2-e1531476664221.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2018\/07\/tech-client-2-e1531476664221.jpg\",\"width\":1068,\"height\":801,\"caption\":\"SkB Architects\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/the-next-episode-in-workplace-design-privacy-returns\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"The Next Episode in Workplace Design: Privacy Returns\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/\",\"name\":\"Commercial Property Executive\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/23f841021ddf3b38ebc56abefe1d6004\",\"name\":\"Beata Lorincz\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2021\/04\/Beata-Lorincz.jpg?w=96\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2021\/04\/Beata-Lorincz.jpg?w=96\",\"caption\":\"Beata Lorincz\"},\"description\":\"With a background in architecture, Beata Lorincz has been an associate editor with Commercial Property Executive and Multi-Housing News since 2017. 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